Motorized foot caring and massage device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a motorized foot caring and massage device(MFCMD), comprising a container provided in a housing, the container having a bottom portion and used for containing water; an air pump, heating means, a vibration assembly and a motorized driven system being provided under the bottom portion of the container; and a function selection switch provided on the housing, in which an upwardly raised peninsular foot seat is provided at a central portion of the container, a combination of stone massage means and raised nodes is provided at a front end of a top portion of the foot seat, and replaceable rotatable massage attachments are provided at a rear end of the top portion of the foot seat; a double safety system is provided under the bottom portion of the container, including a sealing system and a drainage system, the sealing system is used for maintaining the rotation of the output shaft and sealing under normal condition, the drainage system is used for preventing water contained in the container from leaking and entering into the means provided under the bottom of the container in case of failure of the sealing system. The foot caring and massage device of the present invention perfects the functions and guarantees safe and reliable operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention introduces a motorized foot caring and massagedevice for providing various targeted or comprehensive caring andmassage therapy functions to the human feet. The motorized foot caringdevice comprises a container provided in a housing, the container havinga bottom portion and used for containing water; an air pump, heatingmeans, a vibration assembly and a motorized driven system being providedunder the bottom portion of the container; and a function selectionswitch provided on the housing.

THE BACKGROUND ART

Various devices/apparatuses made and utilized as therapeutic caringdevice for the feet are known. For example, there are devices forproviding heat and vibration therapy and caring to the feet, in whichthe devices provide vibration massage to the feet by vibration of themassage device and provide heat caring to the feet using the waterheated by an electric heating means. In addition to heat caring andvibratory massage, some foot massage devices can also produce bubbles inthe water contained in the container so as to provide bubble massage tothe feet.

In order to provide targeted or comprehensive caring and therapy to thefeet, there is an urgent demand for a multifunctional foot caring andtherapy device. In this connection, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,795 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,393,633 disclose a foot bathing device, which comprises acontainer for containing water and an upwardly raised peninsular footseat provided at a central portion of the container, wherein stationary,movable or rotatable massage attachments are provided on the bottomportion of the container, a replaceable massage attachment is providedat the front end of the foot seat, and a heating element provided at therear end of the foot seat.

In addition, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,390 discloses a multifunctionalfoot bathing device, wherein a replaceable massage attachment isprovided only at the rear end of the foot seat.

However, the above foot caring and massage devices can not fully meetthe more comprehensive and targeted foot caring and massage therapydemand of the user. Further, the above documents never disclose anycontents concerning leaking prevention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a motorized foot caringand massage device, which improves the foot caring and massage functionsand is capable of providing corresponding safety protection.

To achieve the object of the present invention, there is provided amotorized foot caring and massage device comprising a container providedin a housing, the container having a bottom portion and used forcontaining water; an air pump, heating means, a vibration assembly and amotorized driven system being provided under the bottom portion of thecontainer; and a function selection switch provided on the housing,

-   -   wherein raised nodes and massage ribs are provided on the bottom        portion of the container for providing reflexology massage to        the sole of the feet, and rotatable massage attachments which        are replaceable as desired are provided in the recess formed on        the bottom portion of the container;    -   the air pump directs air into the container through holes formed        in the massage ribs, thereby generating air bubbles in the water        contained in the container;    -   the heating means is used for heating the water contained in the        container and maintaining a temperature of the water;    -   wherein an upwardly raised peninsular foot seat is provided at a        central portion of the container, a combination of stone massage        means and raised nodes is provided at a front end of a top        portion of the foot seat, and the rotatable massage attachments        which are replaceable as desired are provided at a rear end of        the top portion of the foot seat;    -   wherein the motorized driven system includes a motor, an output        shaft and a gear system driven by the motor, the motorized        driven system is used for driving the rotatable massage        attachments provided at the bottom portion of the container and        at the foot seat to rotate;    -   wherein the vibration assembly includes an eccentric boss        provided on the output shaft of the motor, and is used for        generating vibration and transmitting the vibration to the        raised nodes provided at the bottom portion of the container and        at the foot seat;    -   wherein a double safety system is provided under the bottom        portion of the container, the double safety system includes a        sealing system and a drainage system, the sealing system is used        for maintaining the rotation of the output shaft and sealing        under normal condition, the drainage system is used for        preventing water contained in the container from leaking and        entering into the means provided under the bottom of the        container in case of failure of the sealing system;    -   the function selection switch is provided for selecting various        combinations of foot caring therapy functions as desired.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the heating meanscomprises electric heating wires.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the rotatablemassage attachments are of roller type or disc type.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the stone massagemeans is of oval shape and provided substantially at a center portion ofthe combination of the stone massage means massage means and the raisednodes.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the rotatablemassage attachments provided on the top of the foot seat can be manuallyrotated by friction between a rear portion of a sole of foot and themassage attachments or be motorized rotated by the motorized drivingsystem.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the rotatablemassage attachments provided on the top of the foot seat have a shape ofbossed disc, impeller, vane wheel, flat disc or brush.

According to further aspect of the present invention, the functionselection switch is a rotary switch or a button switch.

According to further aspect of the present invention, wherein thefunction selection switch can be used to select various combinations ofthe foot caring functions comprising Vibration+Heat+Motorized Massage,Bubble+heat or Vibration+heat+bubble+Motorized massage.

According to further aspect of the present invention, a top cover madeof transparent plastic material, which covers the massage device forprotection when the massage device is not used.

According to further aspect of the present invention, rubber feet at thebottom side of the housing for supporting the massage device, the rubberfeet are fastened to a bottom side of the housing by screws.

The motorized foot caring and massage device of the present inventioncan provide various targeted care and therapy to the feet such as the“bubble”, “heat”, “vibration”, and “massage” therapy to the feet. Inaddition, it can provide the “stone” therapy and “motorized rotation”massage therapy to the feet. The present invention is capable ofproviding not only the targeted therapy but also comprehensive footcaring therapy to the feet. The massage attachments are driven to rotateby the motorized driven system and employ a double safety system, whichcan guarantee the safety and reliable operation of the device. Themotorized driven system is provided under the bottom of the container,comprising a motor and a gear system, and the motorized driven system isused for rotating the massage attachments so as to provide massage tothe feet when the feet contact the massage attachments. The air pump isprovided under the bottom portion of the container, air coming from theair pump is directed into the container through the holes formed in themassage ribs, thereby generating bubbles in the liquid contained in thecontainer. The heating means is used for heating the water contained inthe container. The double safety system comprises a sealing system and adrainage system and is provided at and under the bottom portion of thecontainer. The sealing system is used for maintaining rotation of theoutput shaft and sealing under normal condition, and the drainage systemis used for preventing water contained in the container from leaking andentering into the means provided under the bottom of the container incase of failure of the sealing system.

The present invention has improved foot massage function, that is, whenthe foot is seated on the foot seat, the front portion and the rearportion of the sole of the foot can be cared and massaged simultaneouslyrespectively through the combination of the stone massage means andraised nodes provided at the front end of the foot seat and therotatable massage attachments provided at the rear end of the foot seat;and the safety and reliable operation of the massage device can beguaranteed by the double safety system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the present invention inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view the motorized foot caring and massagedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the motorized foot caring and massagedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the motorized foot caring and massage deviceof FIG. 1, showing a user's foot being massaged by the raised nodes, thestone massage means and the massage attachments provided on the footseat;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the motorized foot caring and massagedevice similar to FIG. 1, wherein the wall structure of the housing ispartially cut away so as to clearly show a user's foot which is beingmassaged by the roller attachments provided on the bottom portion of thecontainer;

FIG. 5 is a view of showing the air pump, heating means, vibrationassembly and motorized driven system located under the bottom of thecontainer;

FIG. 6A and 6B are a partial perspective view and a partial section viewshowing the portion under the bottom of the container respectively,wherein the double safety system is especially shown;

FIG. 7A is a view showing the roller attachments installed at the bottomof the container;

FIG. 7B is a view showing the recess provided at the bottom of thecontainer for installing the roller attachments;

FIG. 7C is a perspective exploded view of the roller attachments, theroller attachment bracket and transmission gear;

FIG. 7D is a view showing the raised massage attachments installed atthe bottom of the container;

FIG. 7E is a view showing the recess provided at the bottom of thecontainer for installing the raised massage attachments;

FIG. 7F is a view showing the raised massage attachments, the raisedmassage attachments seat and transmission gear;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the selection switch and ON/OFF switch providedon the housing;

FIG. 9 is a view showing different rotatable massage attachments drivenmanually and driven by motorized system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-5 show a motorized foot caring and massage device according tothe present invention, which can be used to provide heat, vibration,massage, bubbles caring and massage and combinations thereof to thefeet. The motorized foot caring and massage device mainly comprises ahousing 1, a container 4 provided in the housing, an upwardly raisedpeninsular foot seat 2 provided at a central portion of the container,and a top cover 6.

As shown in the Figs, the container 4 comprises an upwardly-extendedwall and a bottom portion 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 5 ofthe container preferably includes some raised nodes 51 having differentsizes. Raised nodes 51 function to massage the feet upon contact, andalso allow water or heat to flow under the feet to improve bloodcirculation of the feet.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a selection switch 8, which is located onthe outside of the foot seat 2, allows the user to select the variouscombinations of the foot caring and massage functions. With reference toFIG. 8, the selection switch 8 can be set to select three (A, B, & C)different combinations of foot caring functions:

-   -   1) Vibration+Heat+Motorized Massage;    -   2) Bubble+Heat;    -   3) Vibration+Heat+Bubble+Motorized Massage.

Further, the rotating head 50 provided at the rear end of the foot seatcan fit over various rotatable massage attachments (pedicureattachments) 42 as desired. The rotation of the massage attachments 42is started when the feet activate the massage attachments 42 bypressing. In addition, the rotatable massage attachments 42 can beshapes as bossed disc, impeller, vane wheel, flat disc or brush. Themotorized rotation of the rotatable massage attachments 42 is started bypressure when the feet contact the massage attachments 42, but therotatable massage attachments 42 can also be rotated manually byfriction between the sole and the rotatable massage attachments 42.There are provided a motor 20, a transmission gear 48 and a switch 49under the foot seat 2 so as to rotate the rotatable massage attachments42 via an output shaft and a clutch 35.

The selection switch 8 can be a rotary switch 9 or a button switch 10and 11, or the combination of the two types of switch. Further, themotorized driven system is provided to achieving the motorized rotationto the massage attachments such as roller attachment 36, and disc-shapedmassage attachments 42.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, an air pump 15 located at the bottomportion of the container 4 directs the compressed air into watercontained in the container 4 through gas tube, V-type tube 17 and holes18 formed in the massage ribs, thereby generating air bubbles in thewater. Heating means 14 is located under the bottom portion 5 of thecontainer 4. The heating means preferably is electric heating wire,which is arranged to substantially cover the bottom portion 5 of thecontainer 4, thereby heating the water in the container 4 andmaintaining the water at a certain temperature.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the raised nodes 51 provided on the footseat 2 and the raised nodes 51 provided on the bottom portion 5 of thecontainer 4 can provide massage function to the feet. Further, stonemassage means 13 provided at the front end of the foot seat 2 canprovide stone therapy function to the feet. The stone massage means 13can be of any shape, but preferably be of oval shape.

Further, the motorized foot caring and massage device comprises avibration assembly 19 provided under the bottom portion 5 of thecontainer 4. The vibration assembly 19 comprises an eccentric boss 21provided on the output shaft of the motor 20 so as to transmit thegenerated vibration to the raised nodes 51 located at the bottom portion5 of the container 4, the raised nodes 51 and the stone massage means 13provided at the front end of the foot seat.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, there are provided massage ribs 52at the bottom portion 5 of the container 4. Additionally, there areprovided detachable and rotatable massage attachments 36 and 42 whichare provided on a pedicure attachment bracket 43. As shown in FIGS. 6and 7, the motorized foot caring and massage device comprises amotorized driven system 22 provided under the bottom portion 5 of thecontainer 4. The motorized driven system 22 comprises a motor 20 and agear system consisting of gears 23 and 24 for rotate the output shaft 34and a clutch 35 so as to achieving the motorized rotation of therotatable massage attachment 36 and 42.

With reference to FIGS. 7B and 7E, the clutch 35 is connected to theoutput 34 (FIG. 6A) so as to provide motorized rotation of the gears 45,46 and 47 which are provided within the pedicure attachment bracket 43and held by the gear holder 44, and to transmit the motorized rotationto the rotatable massage attachments 36 and 42 via the gears, thusproviding massage to the feet. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 7B and7C, the clutch 35 is connected to the output 34 (FIG. 6A) so as toprovide motorized rotation of the bevel gears 40 and 41 which areprovided within the roller attachment bracket 37 and held by the bevelgear holder 38 and the pin 39, and to transmit the motorized rotationfrom the clutch 35 to the roller attachments 36 via the bevel gears,thus providing massage to the feet. With reference to FIG. 8, there is aseparate ON/OFF switch 10 above the selection switch 8, which canperform ON/OFF control of the rotatable massage attachments 36 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 6, a double safety system 25 is provided under thebottom portion 5 of the container 4, and comprises a sealing system 26and a drainage system 32. The sealing system 26 comprises a front seal27, a bearing 28, a back seal 29 and a seal plate 30, and is used formaintaining the output shaft 34 rotation and sealing under normalcondition. The drainage system 31 comprises a gear 32 and a gear holder33, and is used for preventing water contained in the container fromleaking and entering into the means provided under the bottom portion ofthe container in case of failure of the sealing system 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, rubber feet 7 are provided at the bottomside of the housing 1, for supporting the massage device. The rubberfeet 7 are fastened to the bottom side of the housing.

1. A motorized foot caring and massage device, comprising a containerprovided in a housing, the container having a bottom portion and usedfor containing water; an air pump, heating means, a vibration assemblyand a motorized driven system being provided under the bottom portion ofthe container; and a function selection switch provided on the housing,wherein raised nodes and massage ribs are provided on the bottom portionof the container for providing reflexology massage to the sole of thefeet, and rotatable massage attachments which are replaceable as desiredare provided in the recess formed on the bottom portion of thecontainer; the air pump directs air into the container through holesformed in the massage ribs, thereby generating air bubbles in the watercontained in the container; the heating means is used for heating thewater contained in the container and maintaining a temperature of thewater; wherein an upwardly raised peninsular foot seat is provided at acentral portion of the container, a combination of stone massage meansand raised nodes is provided at a front end of a top portion of the footseat, and the rotatable massage attachments which are replaceable asdesired are provided at a rear end of the top portion of the foot seat;wherein the motorized driven system includes a motor, an output shaftand a gear system driven by the motor, the motorized driven system isused for driving the rotation of the rotatable massage attachmentsprovided at the bottom portion of the container and at the foot seat;wherein the vibration assembly includes an eccentric boss provided onthe output shaft of the motor, and is used for generating vibration andtransmitting the vibration to the raised nodes provided at the bottomportion of the container and at the foot seat; wherein a double safetysystem is provided under the bottom portion of the container, the doublesafety system includes a sealing system and a drainage system, thesealing system is used for maintaining the rotation of the output shaftand sealing under normal condition, the drainage system is used forpreventing water contained in the container from leaking and enteringinto the means provided under the bottom of the container in case offailure of the sealing system; the function selection switch is providedfor selecting various combinations of foot caring therapy functions asdesired.
 2. The motorized foot caring and massage device according toclaim 1, wherein the heating means comprises electric heating wires. 3.The motorized foot caring and massage device according to claim 1,wherein the rotatable massage attachments are of roller type or disctype.
 4. The motorized foot caring and massage device according to claim1, wherein the stone massage means is of oval shape and providedsubstantially at a center portion of the combination of the stonemassage means massage means and the raised nodes.
 5. The motorized footcaring and massage device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatablemassage attachments provided on the top of the foot seat can be manuallyrotated by friction between a rear portion of a sole of foot and themassage attachments or be motorized rotated by the motorized drivingsystem.
 6. The motorized foot caring and massage device according toclaim 1 or 4, wherein the rotatable massage attachments provided on thetop of the foot seat have a shape of bossed disc, impeller, vane wheel,flat disc or brush.
 7. The motorized foot caring and massage deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the function selection switch is a rotaryswitch or a button switch.
 8. The motorized foot caring and massagedevice according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the function selection switchcan be used to select various combinations of the foot caring functionscomprising Vibration+Heat+Motorized Massage, Bubble+heat orVibration+heat+bubble+Motorized massage.
 9. The motorized foot caringand massage device according to claim 1, further comprising a top covermade of transparent plastic material, which covers the massage devicefor protection when the massage device is not used.
 10. The motorizedfoot caring and massage device according to claim 1, further comprisingrubber feet at the bottom side of the housing for supporting the massagedevice, the rubber feet are fastened to a bottom side of the housing byscrews.